Sorted by the ‘News’ Category

Our first Summinar of the season featured Mr. and Mrs. Simon Otto of Petoskey. Mr. Otto is an Odawa elder and storyteller. He enamored the 55 member audience with softly spoken stories of his childhood in Michigan and how he was taught to live on the land by his father and grandfather. He remembered fondly being with his tribe on the shores of Lake Michigan when he was eight-years-old, hunting, fishing and making arrowheads and other tools from the chert (a kind of flint) found right here on the shores of Norwood. It was a delight to listen to his ...Read More »

Comments Off on Cleland Releases Local Indian Treaty Book, Faith in Paper

Dr. Chuck Cleland is due congratulations on his recent release Faith in Paper: Ethnohistory and Litigation of Upper Great Lakes Indian Treaties. A detailed work regarding the cultural interactions between Native American and early Michigan settlers, Cleland explains the development of the treaties between the two and the legal disputes that ensued.
Andrew Dietzel of Central Michigan University says, "Cleland carefully presents the perspectives and motivations of both parties in the treaty-making process. Moreover, he contends that, given the lack of written histories among the Anishnabeg, knowledge of culture proves a useful tool for extrapolating an indigenous point of view otherwise ...Read More »

Comments Off on 2012 Summinars in Review: Pearls, Underwater Archaeology and Indian Treaties

Norwood resident, Dr. Chuck Cleland arranged for some wonderful lecture presentations at the Old Schoolhouse last summer. All of them had record attendance. Dr. Norton Bretz kicked off the lecture series with his presentation of “School Days: The Education of Norton Pearl 1878-1906”
Dr. Norton Bretz, retired Princeton University professor of physics and avid researcher, presented his unique perspective on his grandfather, Norton Pearl, who was born in Eastport and immigrated through Norwood and Antrim City following the Civil War. Mr. Pearl was related to over 100 individuals in Norwood and Antrim City between 1870 and 1900; the Pearls, Flanagans and ...Read More »

Many of you may remember Jeff and Susan Kessler who were our neighbors on South Brinker's Road. The Kesslers have moved to Traverse City and we miss their participation in our community. But those who know them will be delighted to learn about Jeff's new career as an author of children's books.
Last October Kessler released his first books, a trilogy of young-reader chapter books; Victor the Friendly Vampire, Victor and the Bullies, and Victor Finds His Family.
The books' main character, a friendly vampire named Victor, is manager of the lighthouse on the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. He gets into ...Read More »

If you haven't been down to the beach in Norwood lately, make a point to swing down there and take a look at the new facilities. Frank Hamilton, Norwood Township Supervisor, said, "Some time ago the Township applied for, and received, a grant to do improvements in the park. In November we installed some bathrooms and picnic facilities there. Go see your tax dollars at work."
In other Township news Hamilton told us that "the turn out for the 2012 National Presidential Election was an outstanding 72% of the Norwood residents!" Way to go Norwood Township. Thanks for taking your right to ...Read More »

We'd like to introduce you to some of the Norwood area's newest neighbors!
Meet Tim and Patti Fore. Originally from Grand Rapids, Tim and Patti recently purchased their home on the lake from longtime friends. Having been in the real estate business for years, Tim and Patti have brought their work from downstate up north with them. They own and operate a title company that has branches in Traverse City, Bay Harbor, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and now Charlevoix. The parents of six children, and grandparents to nine between the ages of one and 16, the Fores are anxiously awaiting the arrival ...Read More »

Comments Off on Film Documentary Premiere Features Norwood Son Ding Darling

We co-hosted an unusual afternoon event last fall. On Sunday, October 21st the Norwood Area Historical Society and the Charlevoix Historical Society hosted the Marvo Entertainment Group's premiere of "America's Darling" at the Charlevoix Public Library.
The Norwood Michigan-born Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling was the son of Marcellus and Clara Darling who were the ministers in the village of Norwood until 1886. Best known for his political and conservation cartoons, Darling was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the head of what later became the U.S. Fish and Wildlife ...Read More »

Comments Off on 2012 Socials in Review, Ice Cream to the Hunters’ Lunch

We would like to thank all the members of the Norwood Area Historical Society who made our four annual events—the Ice Cream Social, the Labor Day picnic, Hunter's Lunch, and year-end potluck—possible. We had several new members join us for the potluck; it will be fun to get to know them. Look for the write-ups on these new neighbors on this site. And the beautifully crafted "Bull's Eye" quilt made expertly by the Norwood Needles group was won by Jim and Jacque Depriest's granddaughter, Meredith Miller! Congratulations.
The village was aglow with lights and pumpkins as we hosted the second annual ...Read More »

Comments Off on Get Chronicle, The Magazine of The Historical Society of Michigan

Chronicle is the membership magazine of the Historical Society of Michigan. It is a gem of a resource. If you aren't a member and love Michigan history we recommend you join just to get the magazine if nothing else. You can subscribe here.
Here are a couple points of interest taken from the Chronicle, Vol. 35, No.3, Fall 2012.
In Pellston, through the spring of 2013, the Little Traverse Bay bands of Odawa Indians, Emmet County and its historical commission, along with Petersburg National Battlefield present "Soldiers in the Shadows". The exhibit, featured at Pellston Regional Airport, tells the story ...Read More »